RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then

RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (Full Version)

All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> After Action Reports

Message

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (1/24/2012 11:13:55 PM)
26 May 1942 RAN roughs up a sub off Perth. USN subs fire lots of dud torpedoes. Dutch AF goes after BBs (again) but does put two non-penentrating 300kg bombs into Ise. They also drop one of those bad boys on a CL. No hits on transports today even though there are dozens of targets to be had out there. Larry has of yet not expanded his perimeter at Semerang. Will be interested if he heads east, west or both directions. Eastern Java is lightly held. Most of the Dutch AS is on the western end of the island which has better defensive terrain. Also no breakout at Rangoon as of yet. Have to wonder is Larry is waiting on supplies to catch up. The IJA does another Deliberate Attack at Chuhsien reducing forts to 1. Just not enough supplies for the Chinese to make a effective defense this far forward. I heard the sinking ship sound twice during the replay. Have to wonder which ships went down. Perhaps the LSD from last turn.

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (1/25/2012 4:04:46 AM)
27 May 1942 Dutch sub hits an xAK heading for Rangoon. Dutch AF impales itself against IJN BB again. IJA armor has reached Djakarta. That's about it.

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (1/25/2012 6:55:17 PM)
28-29 May 1942 Slow two turns. IJN has pulled back from Java. It does appear that a second wave is inbound. IJA continues to push my small stack around southern Sumatra. Chuhsien falls under the weight of 2000+ IJA AS. Now I will have to wait and see how far Larry intends to push here. I knew there was no way Chuhsien could have held. KMT supplies are low everywhere except Chungking. If Larry does pursue the Chinese, I do not think I can hope to stop him short of Changsha.

witpqs -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (1/25/2012 8:19:58 PM)
We need maps! [sm=00000028.gif] [:D]

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (1/25/2012 10:59:32 PM)
30 May 1942 IJN subs have a good day sinking two xAK and a small AO. Trying to change my routing to get off the subs but Larry is doing a good job moving them around. Still, he has not as of yet run afoul of my upgraded DDs. The AO was NE of Auckland in a relative low traffic area. I think he just got lucky on that one. A bunch of TFs are converging on Norfolk Island. Three CVTF and two SCTF will escort two AMPH Tf with two ID, Tanks and engineers into Noumea. On Java it appears the IJA is breaking east and have arrived at dot hex Soerakarta SW of Soerabaja. That hex will likley be occupied next turn. The second wave is arriving but the Dutch AF likes the cruiser based SCTF. IJN BB bombard the base just east of Batavia (whose name eludes me at the moment). The last Filopino unit in central Mindanao dies trying to cross a river into a Japanese occupied hex. Larry lands a SNLF by paradrop on Cebu. I have a Filipino ID there with plenty of supplies. The Shock Attack came off at 1 to 15. Only 620 troops remain. I ordered my own Shock Attack this turn. June 1 is approaching. As I mentioned before I had been laying low to allow my opponent to get oriented to AE. That will change on 1 June. CV Wasp arrives in 15 days which will give me nominal parity with the IJN CVs. As Larry seems to have his carriers divided all over the map, this should be more than enough. I plan to move out of Noumea towards the New Hebrides then southern Solomons. One thing I had done on a whim many months ago was to transport a Commando Coy to Milne Bay. While this unit could have been easily brushed aside by the Japanese, he failed to attack. Its presence has blocked the "Row Boat Corps" from taking any bases east of Buna. I still hold Milne Bay, Goodenough, Kirawini, Rossel Is, etc. The SWPAC will move into these areas once I have a lodgement in the Solomons. By then I should have all six USN carriers in the SoPac. Two carriers are being tasked with escorting reinforcements into the NoPac first. Speaking of which, Saratoga should leave the yard next turn. Maps will come on or around 1 June.

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (1/26/2012 1:55:24 AM)
Per the request, some maps First Coral Sea region. Hopefully this is where I will be applying some pressure within the next few months [image]local://upfiles/25806/F4A2CA54D03C494D81B80A82EBB64253.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (1/26/2012 1:56:22 AM)
Situation in the DEI [image]local://upfiles/25806/F553C552D08E4AB0B90416A41A22077E.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (1/26/2012 1:57:07 AM)
China [image]local://upfiles/25806/DC09D4091D1E4034BFFB028BC5151651.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (1/26/2012 1:57:48 AM)
Burma [image]local://upfiles/25806/7A13CDA9853145A2AB379BF7076A0891.jpg[/image]

witpqs -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (1/26/2012 2:37:09 AM)
Thanks! The DEI is very unusual for this point in the game.

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (1/26/2012 6:28:59 AM)
31 May 1942 The IJA lands two Tank Btn at Cebu but they do little better. Resting my Filipinos a turn or two while disruption falls. Still have a chance of repulsing the invasion if supplies hold. A Fleet boat found working torpedoes and sank an xAK up near Miri. The IJN sent a sub to try to interfere with a small convoy I had sent to Ramree Island. The subs missed and took ten hits. I think it is a goner. The TF for Noumea should all rendevous next turn. Hopefully things will unload quickly as I don't like having my carriers lingering too long. Two CVTF sortie for Whittier. From there they will escort a BF to Unmak. FT TF are moving some smaller units from Annette Is, Sitka, and Yunmak Dutch AF hits nothing today even with better airframes -B-25C and DB7 (A-20). Kicking myself for not moving the three A-24 sq and a BF up here. They would have ripped the Japanese to shreds as Larry withdrew his CVs after he saw how paltry the Dutch air power was and Ryuho got torpedoed Bunch of SQ get withdrewn (withdrawed) so it takes some rearranging on my part. One RAF Catalina sq will have to stay a few extra days as its replacement if not quite there yet.

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (1/27/2012 1:54:38 AM)
1 June 1942 The TF sail for Noumea. Should take just two turns to arrive. All is very quiet in this portion of the map The IJA pushes the stack that retreated from Chuhsien one more hex SE. IJA has arrived at Madien (Sp?) and Tjepoe on Java. Dutch AF managed to actually hit an xAK and an xAP today. Combined PT boat group was unsuccessful in getting past the SCTF at Semerang. No losses. AV Support has arrived at Dutch Harbor allowing me to move up a PBY Sq. Cairns AB goes to level 5.

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (1/27/2012 5:15:46 AM)
2 June 1942 Ducth AF gets four more hits on empty tranports. Still I am thinking this op has cost at least 10 ships including Ryuho. The IJA take Medione (sp?) and Tjepoe. More landings on Cebu which seem to be highly disrupted. Things are surpisingly quite elsewhere on the map. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (1/27/2012 11:51:35 PM)
3 June 1942 The TFs are unloading nicely at Noumea. Fort level increased to level 1 before unloading is even half way complete. There are some IJN subs in the area so I do have some concerns here. Moved my CVTF to the NE of Noumea hopefully to get them out of harm's way. The Dutch AF ignored for the most part the retreating TFs from the second wave at Semerang instead going after TK at Palembang. Unfortunately there is fighter cover there. The target selection and asset allocation routines frustrate me at times. The IJA moved a unit into the hex NE of Prome effectively blocking the retreat of the units from Rangoon. This is a double edge sword for Larry. On one side I can see the wisdom in destroying units that could be used against him in future operations. On the other side is the fact that by blocking the retreat of these highly depleted units (half of which are due to withdraw withing 120 days), he is forcing himself into defending southern Burma. If he just let them past, he could leave a small force in place to protect his flanks and head north and east to clear the rest of the area. The IJA tries another Shock Attack at Cebu and is rebuffed with 1 to 3 odds. I ordred a Deliberate Attack myself this turn. My thinking is that this units is ultimately doomed. I could slip into siege mode but would eventually lose the base any way. So I will take my chances that the IJA is highly disrupted after the last attack. Renell Island was occupied this turn. The 2nd Marines are already prepping for this base. This will likely be my Guadalcanal in this game, i.e., the place where I initially meet the Japanese in a battle of attrition.

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (1/28/2012 3:25:19 AM)
4 June 1942 No battle of Midway for us. One TF is done unloading this turn. The second one will be done next turn. Overall a flawless operation so far. Still worried about I-boats lurking in the area. The a/c for Noumea are heading south now. My attack at Cebu came off at 1 to 7. I guess the Japanese were not as disrupted as I hope. New TF exiting the Makassar Strait. Is this a third wave or heading for another base in the DEI? Pacheng falls just as the last KMT unit slips away. I am trying to make an organized retreat to the river across from Nanyang. So far IJA is cooperating. Rn starts slowly trickling away from withdraws in the next week. I suspect it may be time to pull them back from Madras. A weakend force is more likely to be a giant VP grab vice someting that can interfere with Japanese plans

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (1/29/2012 4:02:48 AM)
5-7 June 1942 TF finish unloading at Noumea. AMPH TF head to home port. The US carriers are going to poke around a bit to see if we can find some Japanese shipping worth sinking. Cebu falls on the 6th. My gallant defenders held for almost seven months. Still four bases in the PI that are Allied. They are all out of supply so they should fall easily. Retreat to the hex opposite nanchang is proceeding nicely. IJA is playing a little whack-a-mole chasing four separate stacks. If the units make it to the target hex in good order, I may move up some AS from the Changsha area to bolster the defense. PT boats hit a convoy at Semarang on the 7th and sink two xAP for the loss of one PT. They have done great work in the DEI and PI for me. Allied air is now hitting the IJA on the ground in Burma. Finally amassing some power to do some damage here.

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (1/30/2012 2:13:50 AM)
8 June 1942 Very slow turn. Saw three separate dud torpedo attacks this turn. I think my actual dud rate is even greater than 90% if that is possible. Very little other action this turn. On the good news front, the besieged troops in Burma repulsed Japanses attacks both at Magwe and in the hex NE of Prome where the Rangoon defenders are trying to make their way back to India

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (1/30/2012 3:31:35 AM)
9 June 1942 Very slow turn. Only important thing I found out was that the stack trapped NE of Prome is indeed trapped. It cannot leave in any direction other than the way it came in. I had thought it would move north towards Akyab. Apparently some ZOC rules escape me I am contemplating a problem I have. The IJN carrier fleet is intact barring the either severely damaged of sunk Ryuho. In our previous game, larry had divided his Cvs up quite a bit and I was able to pick off two CVs and a CVl for little cost to the USN. This allowed for a more level playing field during late '42 and early '43. It seems Larry has learned from his lesson. What I need to do is to lure him into a battle on my terms. The question is how do I do that?

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (1/30/2012 11:34:11 PM)
10 June 1942 Action is somewhat slow right now. The IJN has quit the Java Sea for now so my Dutch AF bombers turn to bombing ground concentrations next turn. The retreat in China is moving along nicely. Should only take a week or so to get everybody across the river from Nanchang The small BTN at Magwe holds again now against an INF RGT, a RCN RGT and some arty. RAF bombers at Chittagong are a major contributor as they inflict 400 casualties before the IJA can mount their attack. More bombers being moved up. Ground attack skills are in the 70s for most of the RAF Blenheim and Wellington crews as they have been training since the war's start. I have a carrier raid in the works that should go off in two turns. The IJN carriers are off the grid. SigInt would point at Truk as their likely location. One thing I have working in my favor is my rapidly expanding OOB. I receive eight DDs in the next 26 days. In addition, the SCs start flowing in 20 days. Larry will hopefully be done using his submarine force so effectively against my sea lanes when they arrive. CVL Ryujo is still on the sunk ships lists with a 12 May sinking date. I will wait until 12 July before I celebrate. My experience is that FOW will usually reveal itself within two months of a reported sinking.

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (1/31/2012 3:16:00 AM)
11 June 1942 The stack of Allied units that has been chased from Palembang to Benkholin to near Oosthaven has arrived back at Lahat and occupies the base! Of course it has an AS of 1 but they reclaimed a piece of ground daggonit! Unfortunately Padang fell this turn and two out of three units surrendered. The third ran into the jungle. I snuck an xAK into Sibolga but it is unloading painfully slow. In Burma, the IJA went back to BOMB Attacks. At Magwe, RAF bombers do not do quite as good a job today but did do this: Japanese ground losses: 135 casualties reported Squads: 4 destroyed, 11 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Vehicles lost 25 (1 destroyed, 24 disabled) and this Japanese ground losses: Guns lost 21 (1 destroyed, 20 disabled) That'll do, pig. That'll do. Oh and all things I had Vals on Ground Attack out of Rangoon. Hmmmmmmm Potential big news next turn. Stay tuned

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (1/31/2012 5:53:46 PM)
12 June 1942 Three USN CVTF raid Lunga to find only two MGB TFs there - rats. I did manage to shoot down a Mavis and an Elf. The USN withdraws back towards the New Hebrides at flank speed. I have a strong suspicion the IJN CVs are up at Truk. No need to challenge them at this point. CV Wasp has departed the Canal Zone for the SoPac. Saratoga and Yorktown are about half way across the Gulf of Alaska escorting a large BF into Unmak island. Once that unit arries, I can base fighters at Unmak releasing the carriers for other duties. On Java, the IJA ID that had been heading towards Batavia has suddenly turned south Towards Titlijap (SP?). Soerabaja is not yet besiegeed but the 48th ID took Medioen this turn. In Burma, the RAF whacks the growing stack at Magwe again. The base will fall soon, but I have definitely excised my pound of flesh. I am trying to get some supplies into the stack trapped NE of Prome. They will either die there or fight their way out. They have a 2:1 base AV advantage but with nearly 0 supplies. The IJAAF has been pounding the retreating units from the Chuhsien battle. While the damage is not insignificant, the biggest issue is the constant resetting of the move order to combat. This is really slowing down the escape.

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (2/1/2012 5:15:32 AM)
13 June 1942 Things may be looking up in Burma. The Imp Guards C unit shock attacked the Rangoon Refugees this turn. Did not go well for the IJA Japanese ground losses: 1058 casualties reported Squads: 8 destroyed, 105 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled) Allied ground losses: 72 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled I order a counter attack this turn. There is another IJA unit moving up from the south. This may be my one and only chance to break out. If I can push the IJA back just long enough to open the road to Akyab, I will be most pleased The RAF continues to rip the IAJ stack at Magwe apart. Pilot training for the win as all these groups just sat up north and trained trained trained. Now with skill levels in the 70s, they are killers. For example: Japanese ground losses: Guns lost 24 (20 destroyed, 4 disabled) Vehicles lost 29 (19 destroyed, 10 disabled) SS Porpoise is roughed up SE of Singers. She may not make it as damage is SYS 24 FLOT 47 (38 major) Soerabaja is invested by 7 units now. Base will likely fall quickly. In China, the trailing group of KMT units was finally caught by the IJA. They are forced SW away from Nanchang and will now head west towards Kasien. It did cost the IAJ 2400 casualties. The rest of the group is almost away. Map shows the area with IJA unit counts in each hex marked. [image]local://upfiles/25806/0BDAEEA89A7B4D3E9BE02F7FFD21051B.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (2/2/2012 1:07:42 AM)
14 June 1942 Bah. My attack near Prome just missed 1 to 1 with the Allies taking 700 casualties to 150 for Japan. Looks like that stack will die there. Little else to report. Did the combat introduction of the ProtoJugg, the P-43 in China. One Ki-43 was damaged. [image]local://upfiles/25806/F957EA31436E4CEB9ECC0495373112D6.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (2/2/2012 4:46:33 AM)
15 June 1942 Well that was interesting. A SCTF showed up and sank a small TF with an xAKL and PC at Ramree Island. No biggie. Inland the noose is tightening around the Rangoon Refugees as two additional units are approaching from the south. Two IJA units are now at Meiktila with 3 more approaching. Magwe continues to hold. First deliberate attack at Soerobaja is a solid 2 to 1 with near equal casualties but a disproportionate number of Allied losses being in the destroyed vs disabled category. Larry dropped more paras at Sibolga. That attack came off at 1 to 2. The refugess from Sabang are only one hex out. Lastly Dutch B-25s made a long range attack on a convoy two hexes due east of Singers. Wow, didn't know they could reach that far. Units are now moving on Changsha from the NE. I may pull the large stack just over the river from Nanchang back a bit. I don't want to lose those units so far forward. I have three "New Divisions" fully rebuilt at Chungking. I think it is time to move them to the front lines. My concern is that the huge stack that had been moving on Sian has disappeared. There is a lot of Japanese firepower that could be concentrated at one point if Larry so desires. [image]local://upfiles/25806/D1883FFEFA744FEE9A1DE5312201DF90.jpg[/image]

Kereguelen -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (2/2/2012 9:55:11 AM)
Excellent AAR!

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (2/2/2012 11:08:26 PM)
16 June 1942 Action heats up. Soerabaja suffers its second deliberate attack which came off at 1 to 2 but both reduced the forts and destroyed 45 Allied combat squads. Titlijab suffers the same fate but here the attack comes off 1 to 4 and hurts the IJA far worse even though forts still drop. There are Ki-43c based at Medioen now which is hampering my efforts to interfere now. A fourth wave of transports has arrived at Semerang. The intrepid defenders at Magwe are finally routed. Weather prohibited sufficient suppression by the RAF over the past two turns. Five IJA units are at Meiktila plus four more one hex out. Add in the three at Magwe and the IJA is finally pressing home its attack. I am moving some BF and a few strong Infantry units to better be able to defend Changsha. So far just one unit coming down for the NE. IJA seems to be moving towards a river crossing just west of Nanchang. Av support arrives at Unmak Island. A Sep Inf RGT plus the one Mountain RGT have been bought out to reinforce this position. In addition all the free units in the Gulf of Alaska are being picked up and moved forward. Huge convoy with a big pile of SeaBeas is leaving SD. Aircraft are about a week out of Noumea which has a level 3.5 AB. Both the 32nd and 41st ID have arrived at Oz. The will protect Cairns and Townsville for now.

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (2/3/2012 4:49:55 AM)
17 June 1942 There are now all or a portion of three ID in the hex with the Rangoon Refugees. Handwriting on the wall so they say. There are now five units at Meiktila and eight units in the hex immediately south. It does not appear that Monsoon is having any effect here. One place where the game truly falls short as combat operations in Burma were only possible for seven months of the year at best. SS Flying Fish sinks an xAK off Shikuku. SS Herring takes a short at CA Furatuka off Shortlands with dud torpedoes. I think my opponent may be trying to bait me into another CV raid. That's just a bit too obvious don't you think? The last unit that retreated from Padang is destroyed today. Everybody else holds today A bunch of BS with 2-3 B-17E witdraw from the WCUSA today suddenly filling my pool with 50+ airframes. While I still need to be cautious, a lot of B-18 units will finally get new airframes

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (2/3/2012 11:35:22 PM)
18 June 1942 Some how I managed to hold Soerobaja this turn. Results were ugly. It will surely fall at the next attack. Some of the Dutch bombers made it through the CAP but did not hit anything. Just BOMB attack at Tilijap Meiktila fell. The large stack NE of Prome smacked the Rangoon Rufugees with a pretty devasting Shock Attack. Again, likley about to fall apart here. I am wondering how far Larry will push from here once the rest of Burma falls. I have already started building the Assam and Bengal regions. A USN fleet baot took a shot at a SCTF near Rabaul. This is a different one than the one attacked yesterday. Larry seems to be concentrating his power in this region now. I have lots of S-Boats guarding the approaches to PM, Milne Bay, and the New Hebrides Things in China are becoming precarious. The large stack that took Chuhsien is not going to cross opposite Nanchang. Instead it is moving to flank me to the south. The force covering the river breaks for Changsha. Hopefully it be able to get into a blocking position before the IJA arrives. I released the three rebuilt "New" Divisions. This will add 750 AS to the defenses in Central China. I have about 4000 AS in north central China. If this offensive continues to materialize, I may need to make a spoiling attack in that region. Also, cursor intel says only one unit at Canton. Unfortunately the Chinese have no RECON assets. Maybe I'll send the RAF unit training at Calcutta this way just to verify that fact. If true, even a half hearted effort would make Larry have to break off and deal with a threat against an important base like that one. [image]local://upfiles/25806/6938B1C493444A96A3A47B62AB5AA3B6.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (2/4/2012 4:00:27 AM)
Addendum to 18 June post: Japanese troops coming ashore at both Bacolod and Zamboanga on that turn 19 June 1942 Soerobaja falls. Lasted longer than I thought. I still think it will take Larry a while to clear all of Java. My guess is the better part of a month but I could be wrong. Lead Chinese units make 30 miles on the first day. Barring a disaster, they should be able to cover my flank before the IJA can arrive. KXV torpedos an xAK off Rangoon. Combat report indicated troop loss. I am beginning to wonder if I may see a overland invasion of India more and more. Tojos appear in numbers for the first time. Two are shot down offset by 4 P-40E. Not a good ratio but there are not the Uber fighter I feared. They appear to be based at magwe. I want to hit the IJA for another turn but I think I will turn my bombers loose on the AB soon. Also, I have one sq of P-38E. They will tangle with the Ki-44 to see what that brings. The convoy with a/c for Noumea will arrive in two to three turns under CV escort.

vettim89 -> RE: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then (2/4/2012 4:49:30 AM)
Oh, I keep forgetting to mention that the ops report informed me the CVL Ryujo is not sunk. BOOOOOO!!!!

Page: << < prev 3 4 [5] 6 7 next > >>

Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.4.5 ANSI

0.796875